What’s On My Music Stand, Summer Edition

Here’s a quick rundown on what I’ve been practicing this summer. Scheduling has been more of a challenge, but I’m finally settling into a decent (but flexible) routine. Some of them are old favorites, but there is also plenty of new (at least to me) and exciting repertoire. If you find yourself getting bogged down during the summer months, pick out some new pieces (solos, etudes, excerpts, chamber music, etc.) and get to work!

Old Stuff

Eurico Carrapatoso, Sete Melodias in Forma De BrumaKeeping these in shape for performance at the 45th International Horn Symposium in Memphis, TN.

Kopprasch Complete, ed. Corbin Wagner Hoping to record some more videos this summer, and right now I’m working on Nos. 51, 52, and 53.

New Stuff

Paul Basler, Etudes for Horn, Volume 2 A two-volume set of studies that will push your technique, range, and endurance. Not as difficult as the Verne Reynolds etudes, but just as stimulating! Read a review of them at Horn Matters.

I’m working on the next several pieces in preparation for a duo faculty recital this fall with my colleague, Dr. Mel Mobley, who teaches percussion, composition, and music theory here at ULM. There is some wonderful and challenging music out there for horn and percussion, and I’m really looking forward to this recital. If you are interested in finding out more about horn and percussion music, one excellent resource is a dissertation by Dr. Casey N. Maltese, A Performance Guide of Selected Works for Horn and Mallet Percussion, D.M.A dissertation, the University of Miami, 2011.

Daniel McCarthy, The Call of Boromir for Horn and Marimba Dedicated to Christopher and Leslie Norton, this brief piece is inspired by passages from The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. Lots of fun writing for both instruments! Here’s a great performance by Brigette Hopkins (horn) and Justin Stolarik (marimba) at the University of Texas-Austin.

Verne Reynolds, HornVibes: Three Duos for Horn and VibraphoneAnother substantial work for horn and mallet percussion, HornVibes was also composed for Christopher and Leslie Norton. The outer movements are sustained and atmospheric, and the central movement contains jazz influences. This piece is currently out of print, and is a bit tricky to get your hands on – more on this in a future post.

Mark Schultz, Dragons in the Sky for Horn, Percussion, and Tape Another Tolkien-inspired work, this time drawing on passages from The Silmarillion. I performed this piece in doctoral school, and I’m very excited about performing it again after several years. One of the most notable features in the horn part is the use of multiple extended techniques. Check out this recording by Thomas Bacon to hear them.

Steven Winteregg, High Veld Sunrise for Horn and MIDI I’m planning to round out the rest of the horn and percussion recital with a few solo works, this being one of them. This piece was commissioned by Dr. Richard Chenoweth, who, “having returned from a safari to the African veld…wanted a piece for horn and MIDI that evoked the sounds of Africa.” (composer’s notes). If you don’t know any of Steven Winteregg’s music, he has lots of great pieces for horn, including solos, chamber music, and horn ensembles. High Veld Sunrise is really fun to play, and is very accessible to audiences.